Kathy's Final 2018 Thread

This is my fourth thread of the year.

Kathy's First Thread -- 88 books
Kathy's Second Thread - 88 books
Kathy's Third Thread - 86 books

1. The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black (336 p.) -- Wonderful contemporary fantasy. Hazel and Ben live in Fairfold where humans and the fey interact. They were raised by their parents who neglected them. They roamed the woods and told each other stories about the horned boy in the glass coffin. They were friends with Jack who is a changeling. When the coffin is broken open and the alderking demands that Hazel find his missing son, Hazel, Ben, Jack, and Severin (the horned boy) have to find a way to defeat the alderking before he unleashes his fey on the town.

Happy new thread!

Happy new thread!

2. A True Cowboy Christmas by Caitlin Crews (352 p.) -- An angst-filled Christmas romance. Gray Everett proposes to the girl next door who has loved him since she was in elementary school. Gray is looking for a convenient wife who wants what he wants for his land and his family. Abby is torn. She has a horrible self-image because of years of verbal abuse from the mother who wanders in and out of her life. She takes a gamble and accepts. Gray, his brothers, and his daughter have also been emotionally abused by his father who has recently died. Their various abuses make it hard for them to build a relationship.

3. Virus on Orbis 1 by PJ Haarsma (272 p.) -- Middle Grade science fiction. JT is one of two hundred orphans who find themselves arriving at Orbis 1. Their parents started the journey. The kids are distributed out as slaves until they make up the debt accrued by their parents. JT has a special talent. He is a softwire who can interact with computers just by standing near them. When the supercomputer that runs Orbis 1 starts having glitches, the aliens are quick to blame JT. But he's only one part of a larger political scheme which is pitting the Traders against the Keepers. JT also discovers a different alien species who lives within the supercomputer.

4. Close to the Bone by Kendra Elliot -- First novella in Widow's Island quartet. FBI Special Agent Cate Wilder comes home to heal from a bullet wound and the loss of her partner to find herself drafted to check out some bones located on nearby Ruby's Island. She's there with the new local doctor and her old friend Tessa who is back home working as a deputy. Tessa and Cate have additional stress because their best friend Samantha disappeared when she was 14 and has never been found. Nice setting, interesting mythology about the island's past. Nice mystery too.

5. Embolden by Syrie James and Ryan James (336 p.) -- YA paranormal romance. Claire is a half-angel with visions; Alec is an angel who has left his job hunting the Fallen to live a normal teenage life with Claire. She's developing a new, dangerous gift; he's regretting all of the things he left behind. This one has jealousy, friendships tested, scary villains, and a quest to find Claire's missing father.

6. Little White Lies (Debutantes) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (400 p.) -- Fun mystery with laugh-out-loud humor too. Sawyer Taft has been raised by her mother in a small town. When her upper class grandmother offers her enough money for college if she takes part in the debutante season. Sawyer jumps at the change. She really wants to know who her father is. After all, he got her 17-year-old mother pregnant and abandoned her. That isn't the only mystery she has to solve though. She wants to know who the driver was of the hit-and-run that left a valet in a coma and his brother searching for answers. Great characters including her cousin Lily, Sadie-Grace Waters, and frenemy Campbell Ames. It just so happens that all of their fathers are on Sawyer's daddy list.

7. A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle (304 p.) -- Contractor Shannon Hammer's younger sister Chloe - the star of a home improvement show - comes back home with a blackmailer and work drama trailing her. When her executive producer Bree is found dead in the house they plan to rehab the day after a loud argument with Chloe, Shannon steps in to prove her sister innocent. Then the blackmailer is also found murdered and the case looks even worse for Chloe. This is the most recent in a long-running series. The characters are well done. I liked the setting and the info about Victorian architecture.

9. Midsummer Mayhem by Marty Wingate -- Pru Parke's latest mystery begins when she is asked to supply the plants for an outdoor performance of Shakespeare. When one of the cast is found dead in a locked room from bee stings, Pru uses her insider position to help her husband DI Christopher Pearse solve the case. I liked the characters, the setting, the information on the play, and all the information about plants. I guessed the murderer chapters before Pru but still enjoyed the story.

10. Umbertouched by Livia Blackburne (383 p.) -- Sequel to Rosemarked. Zivah and Dineas need to get home before the Amparan army arrives. They believe that the rose plague was caused by the emperor and are looking for proof. Dineas is conflicted about what he did while he was spying in the empire and his tribe is also wondering about his loyalty. Zivah is still looking for a cure to the rose plague even as her own disease is getting active again. She is still contagious and needs to keep away from her loved ones which increases her loneliness. Great worldbuilding; great characters.

11. A Dangerous Duet by Karen Odden (386 p.) -- 19-year-old Nell Hallam has disguised herself as a man to work as a pianist at the Octavian music hall in Soho to earn money for tuition at the Royal Academy. She's keeping this a secret from her older brother Matthew who is an Inspector for Scotland Yard and busy looking into a series of robberies. She meets Stephen, a violinist, and Jack who fixes things. Stephen tries to sweep her off her feet by telling lies about Jack but it is Jack who she really likes. Unknown to her, the music hall is one of the centers of the robbery ring and Nell finds herself right in the middle of it. This was exciting and fast-paced. I liked the romance and I liked the information about the knowledge of mental illness at the time. Nell's mother suffered from bipolar disorder and her doctor is afraid that Nell has inherited the same illness.

12. SEAL's Honor by Megan Crane (352 p.) -- Everly runs from Chicago to Alaska looking for help from her childhood hero Blue when her roommate is murdered. Blue has left the SEALs and is trying to find his balance. He is convinced that he's a monster because of what he did, but Everly sees him as the hero he was for her when she was a child. This was an intense romance and a good mystery too.

13. The Lying Woods by Ashley Elston (336 p.) -- Owen is forced to come home from boarding school when he learns that his father has bled his company dry and disappeared, leaving Owen's mother to take the blame. Owen gets a job working outside of town in a pecan orchard owned by a recluse. The story flashes back to 1999 when a 19-year-old named Noah gets off the bus, out of money, and hope and is given a job in the same orchard where he gets to know the owner Gus and Gus's wife Abby who's dying of cancer. He also meets and falls in love with a girl named Maggie but her rich and overly-protective parents want a different guy for her. This was a great story about dealing with a parent you really don't know and the consequences of someone's actions on his family.

14. A Scandal in Scarlet by Vicki Delany (320 p.) -- 4th in series. Gemma investigates the death of the chair of the board of directors of a local historical museum when she is found strangled in their back room when she is supposed to be the auctioneer for a charity auction being hosted by Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room. The first suspect is a despised local business owner. Gemma isn't interested in investigating until her curiosity is aroused. Suspects include the victim's ex-husband and his new jealous wife, the ousted previous board chair and an obsessed volunteer at the museum, and members of both rival yacht clubs. This was entertaining. I like Gemma and her reluctant partner Jayne.

15. The Fated Sky by Mary Robinette Kowal (384 p.) -- Followup to THE CALCULATING STARS. It begins in 1961, Elma has been to the moon many times where she thinks of herself as a bus driver. She would love to take part in the Mars mission but it means 3 years away from Earth and her husband Nathaniel. It also means that she and Nathaniel will never have children. When she's added to the Mars Mission it means that one of her friends is bumped which causes tension with the other astronauts on the mission including her nemesis Stetson Parker who is the mission commander. Racial tension is high both in the United States and the space program. Once the Mars mission begins they astronauts face interpersonal problems, equipment problems, deaths, and losing contact with Earth. A real page-turner.

16. Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter (293 p.) -- Maddie and Logan were best friends when they were kids. Logan's dad was President of the US and Maddie's dad his Secret Service Agent. After they foiled a kidnapping of Logan's mom, Maddie's dad quit his job and moved them to the wilds of Alaska. Maddie spends six years there before circumstances bring Logan there to get him out of Washington. With her dad gone, it is up to an injured Maddie to rescue Logan when he is kidnapped by unknown assailants. Lots of snarky humor from Maddie and lots of adventure as they need to survive in Alaska while avoiding the villains and Alaska's treacherous weather and wildlife.

17. Those Who Go By Night by Andrew Gaddes (300 p.) -- 1324, England, Thomas Lester is sent by the Bishop of Lincolnshire to investigate a death on the altar of a small town church. His other goal is to keep the budding Inquisition out of the matter. Friar Justus, a Dominican eager to see heresy everywhere, gets there first and tries to push his agenda. Other murder occur and Thomas needs to track down a serial killer. Lots about women's rights and roles of the time period shown by four women characters - the lord of the manor's strange second wife, his daughter, his daughter's maidservant, and a woman who has fled Ireland after accusations of witchcraft.

18. Warcross by Marie Lu (366 p.) -- Futuristic thriller. Teenage hacker Emiko Chen is hired by Hideo Tanaka to find out who is trying to ruin the current Warcross tournament. Warcross is a global phenomenon computer game that Tanaka created when he was thirteen. Emiko finds herself on a team that is competing so that she can find the villain. Great technology and worldbuilding and a twist at the cliffhanger ending.

19. In Peppermint Peril by Joy Avon -- Callie Aspen is back in Heart's Harbor, Maine, for Christmas and helping at her great-aunt's tea room While catering a small event at the home of the town's richest woman, she gets involved in investigating the murder of the gardener. There are all kinds of secrets in this one. It was a sweet cozy with an interesting main character, a budding romance, and a cute dog.

20. A Vintage Death by Mary Ellen Hughes (256 p.) -- Callie is a new shopkeeper in Keepsake Cove when she is roped into hosting an author event around Halloween. When the owner of the B&B where Lyssa, the author, is staying is found stabbed to death with a pair of scissors that probably came from his estranged wife Dorothy's shop which sells vintage sewing stuff. Callie and Lyssa team up to find the killer, but before they do, another shopkeeper is found stabbed to death in the same park. That shopkeeper had a long running feud with Dorothy which piles even more suspicion on her. Nice cozy.

21. Fatal Festival Days by Jamie M. Blair (224 p.) -- 3rd in cozy mystery series. Cameron plans events in her small town but this one is marred by the murder of the man who is lending his land for the ski race. He was something of a shady character but Cameron and her crew begin to investigate. Then, a second death follows along with the town's mascot going missing. There were so many characters in this story that it was hard for me to keep track of who was who, who was related to who, and who had what relationship with who.

Time for a re-read of my favorite "comfort" books.

22. Written in Red by Anne Bishop

23. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

24. Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

25. Marked in Flesh by Anne Bishop

25. Etched in Bone by Anne Bishop

Now back to my reading calendar.

26. The Once and Future Geek by Mari Mancusi (352 p.) -- Middle school time travel. Sophie and Stu are best friends and gamers. Their current obsession is Camelot's Honor where their goal is to defeat Morgana. They never expected to time travel back to Camelot and actually battle Morgana, but when Arthur time travels to the present and doesn't want to go back, Sophie and Stu have to convince him. Lots of Arthurian fantasy, action, friendship, and adventure in this story which begins a new series.

27. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch (320 p.) -- First Peter Grant paranormal mystery. New Police Constable Peter Grant finds himself apprenticed to the only wizard in the London Police force after having an encounter with a ghost. Lots of neat paranormal creatures in a police procedural. Snarky main character.

28. Lies Sleeping by Ben Aaronovitch (291 p.) -- 7th in Rivers of London series; feels like an episode that wraps up a number of plot threads begun in earlier books. Peter Grant is a police man whose specialty is magic and those who mispractice it. He is on the track of Martin Chorley who has a devious plan which Peter and his mates are still trying to figure out. Lots of exciting action. Great paranormal characters. A wonderful, irreverent and snarky main character.

29. Deception with an Unlikely Earl by Victoria Alexander (384 p.) -- Nice historical romance. Sydney Honeywell has become famous for writing entertaining adventures about exploring Egypt. She is using her grandmother's memoirs but the reading public believes they are her adventures. Harry Armstrong spent years in Egypt. Now he has inherited an earldom and is writing his memoirs but they can't compete with Sydney's. He challenges her to prove herself and she finds herself, along with a reporter and her three matchmaking, elderly friends, traveling to Egypt with Harry who has conveniently failed to tell them he's the Earl. Harry wasn't expecting to fall in love with Sydney and Sydney wasn't expecting to find that she has a taste for real adventure. Loved the Lady Travelers.

30. Fool's Moon by Diane A. S. Stuckart (323 p.) -- Cats Ophelia and Brandon, along with their pit bull pal, Zuki, solve the mystery of the deaths of their first owner and their owner's maid with minor assistance from Ruby who has adopted the pets and read tarot cards at her sister's occult store.

31. Fire & Heist by Sarah Beth Durst (304 p.) -- Sky is a 16-year-old dragon in Aspen where dragons are celebrities. However, her family has lost wealth and status when their mother planned a heist but failed at it and disappeared. Despite being told not to by her father, Sky is determined to compete her mother's heist and restore the family's honor and find her mother. She works with the ex-boyfriend who led the shunning her family experieced, a wizard with an agenda of his own, and a human friend intrigued by dragons and unicorns. When the heist fails, Sky finds herself exiled to Home which isn't the paradise she had been led to believe it was. Though she learns to change into a dragon (a skill lost on Earth) and find her mother, she still wants to return to Earth and confront Ryan's father who has been dumping his enemies there for years. Exciting story, great world building, and nice characters.

32. A Moment in Crime by Amanda Allen (288 p.) -- Historical mystery set in Santa Fe in 1920. Artist Maddie Vaughn-Alwin is settling in to her new life when a movie comes to town. Her cousin Gwen has a bit part and a history with the director. When the director is found dead - an apparent suicide, Maddie has to untangle the crime and save her cousin. Lots of great period details in vocabulary and attitudes. Lots of information about the early days of movie making.

33. Sadie by Courtney Summers (320 p.) -- Told in alternating chapters. West McCray is a radio personality who gets sucked into the case of a missing girl and creates a podcast about his search for her. The second point of view is Sadie's who goes on a quest to find the man she believes killed her 12-year-old sister Mattie. West is on her trail and his part of the story is transcripts of the podcast with his thoughts and interviews with people who know Sadie and people she interacted with on her search. Sadie's part gradually reveals the horrors that she lived through since she was a small child. Compellingly readable and heartbreaking.

34. Diamond Fire by Ilona Andrews (160 p.) -- This novella stars Catalina who has become the wedding planner for her sister Nevada's wedding to Mad Rogan. Of course, besides trying to plan the wedding, she also has to deal with someone who wants to kill Nevada and Rogan enough to plot their death by poisoning their wedding case. Also there is a missing tiara and all sorts of family drama and crime for Catalina to clear up before the wedding. Catalina begins to come to terms with her very unusual and scary psychic power.

35. Bitten by Noelle Marie (298 p.) -- YA werewolf romance that begins a trilogy. Katherine is bitten by a wolf, notices changes in herself, walks in on a home invasion by werewolf hunters, is rescued by Bastian and his pack. After telling her that her parents are dead, they take her to Canada where she is dropped into werewolf society with its jealousies and secrets. She is falling for Bastian in a Stockholm Syndrome kind of way since he is distant, authoritarian and controlling. Seems he is fighting the idea that she's his destined mate.

36. Serpentine by Laurell K. Hamilton (512 p.) -- Anita, Micah, Nathaniel and some bodyguards are in the Florida Keys for Edward and Donna's destination wedding. But relationship drama between A, M, and N and between Edward and Donna almost derail the event. A psycho bridesmaid determined to stop the wedding because of Anita and Edward's imaginary affair, a missing coed found gruesomely murdered, a missing bridesmaid, and a family under a curse that is turning them to serpents add their own tension. Also, a police detective with a hidden psychic gift is trying to railroad Nathaniel into confessing to the murder. Okay but too much relationship stuff especially Anita's poly lifestyle for me.

37. The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis (288 9.) -- Silke is looking for a home where she can belong forever. Losing her parents at seven has made her long for security. She's working in the Chocolate Heart and her best friend is Aventurine. When she gets a chance to work for the Crown Princess to find out what the elves really want when they come to visit, she thinks a home is in sight. But she still needs to save her friends and rescue the parents she thought were lost forever when she discovers the elves dastardly plan. Great characters, great worldbuilding, and great message.

38. Shades of Wicked by Jeaniene Frost (384 p.) -- Ian and Veritas very reluctantly join together to defeat the demon Dagon who grossly wronged both of them. Dagon held Veritas prisoner and tortured, raped, and abused her until she could manage to escape. Ian was tricked into trading his soul to Dagon to save one of the people he loves. Great characters, lots of action, and great romance too.

39. Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo (376 p.) -- Diana feels like she's unworthy to be one of the Amazons since she hasn't been battle tested. When she gets a chance to go on a quest of her own, she finds herself helping a young woman who is a warbringer and the descendant of Helen of Troy get to a magical spring before a certain date to end the line of warbringers. They have adventures, suffer betrayals, and learn about their strengths along the journey.

40. Lake Silence by Anne Bishop (416 p.) -- re-read

41. Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose (342 p.) -- Regency Historical Mystery - Earl and scientist, Wrexford is being accused of the murder of a minister with whom he had a battle of words. Cartoonist A. J. Quill is making good money drawing satirical cartoons about the situation. Charlotte Sloane has taken on the Quill identity to use her talents to make money after her husband's death. When Wrexford tracks down Quill the two end up working together to solve the mystery of who wants to frame Wrexford for the death and, along the way, they also learn about Charlotte's husband's death. Lots of science in this one and intrigue too.

42. Murder at Half Moon Gate by Andrea Penrose (369 p.) -- Second Wrexford and Sloane Regency mystery has Wrex and Charlotte solving the mystery of the murder of an inventor who was ready to patent his new revolutionary steam engine. Wrex and his friend stumbled over the body while taking a shortcut home from a gaming hell but didn't recognize him. When the inventor's lovely widow enlists Wrex's aid, he calls on Charlotte and her cadre of street urchins to help solve the crime. When Charlotte's friend Lord Sterling who was an investor and a friend of the inventor's assistant becomes involved, Charlotte has even more incentive to solve the crime. I loved the growing relationship between Wrex and Charlotte too.

43. Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox by Forthright (347 p.) -- Entertaining fantasy/romance with great world building. Tsumiko inherits a fortune, a mansion, and an Amaranthine butler from a great-aunt she's never met. She was chosen because she is a beacon who has a huge amount of soul energy. Argent has been owned by generations of Tsumiko's family but Tsumiko is determined to find a way to set him free. I loved that the story was told from both Tsumiko and Argent's points of view.

44. Kimiko and the Accidental Proposal by Forthright (450 p.) -- A new school to foster cultural understanding has begun. This is the story of some of the students from reaver Kimiko, to Amaranthine Quen, to human Tenma and how they all learn and grow as the year progresses. Kimiko accidentally proposes to Quen and then has to quickly learn how to court him. Tenma has to overcome his fear of the Amaranthine and discover his own hidden talents. Loved the characters and the roles some of the characters from Tsumiko and the Enslaved Fox played in this story too. Very creative worldbuilding.

45. An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris (386 p.) -- Alternate history with magic. Lizbeth Rose lives in Texahoma and makes her living as a gunnie - armed mercenary. She is the result of rape when her mother had a forced encounter with a Russian-born magician. It has given her an intense dislike of the grigori. However, when her crew is killed by bandits, she takes a job with two grigori who are looking for a traveling magician. It just so happens that the magician they are looking for is her father and she found and killed him first. When they learn he is dead, they hire her to look for his brother and other daughter. The action is fast and furious as other grigori don't want Gunnie Rose's clients to succeed. I enjoyed this one and liked the worldbuilding and Gunnie Rose's character.

46. Guardian by A. J. Hartley (320 p.) -- Conclusion of the Steeplejack trilogy. South African setting with all the racial tensions. Ang Sutonga, a Lani, is a former steeplejack who has become on investigator for an up-and-coming liberal politician who is wealthy and part Lani. When he is accused of killing the prime minister, Ang has to clear his name. However, the prime minister's death has opened the way for the city to be taken over by the most racist of all the parties. This party is also willing to turn the city over to former enemies mainly because they are also white and favor ethnic cleansing. Filled with action and political intrigue.

47. A Dangerous Collaboration by Deanna Raybourn (328 p.) -- Along with Lord Templeton-Vane, Veronica and Stoker find themselves on a remote Cornish island to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Malcolm Romilly's bride on her wedding day. Lots of suspects including Malcolm, his sister Mertensia, his sister-in-law Helen and nephew Caspian. Also his very devoted and housekeeper and Lord Templeton-Vane are also suspects in Rosamund's disappearance. Meanwhile, Veronica is facing some questions about her relationship with Stoker and Stoker is stoking her fires of confusion. Great characters and mystery.

48. Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller 9320 p.) -- re-read; Aelliana Caylon wins a spaceship in a card game. Since she is abused by the nadelm of her clan, she sees this as her chance to escape Liad. Only she has to learn to fly and learn to survive in the greater world. Daav yos'Phelium, Delm Korval, has a need to marry and have a child. He chooses a contract marriage but is dissatisfied. He goes to his friends at Binjali's space yard to work out his problems. He meets Aelliana. He assists her in her goals of learning to fly and learning about the world and also falls in love with her. They have adventures before they find their way to happiness.

49. Mouse and Dragon by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (368 p.) -- Daav and Aelliana met in Scout's Progress. This is the story of how their relationship proceeded and the problems caused by Aelliana's Clan Mizel and Daav's sister Kareen. It talks about their lifemating and the problems they initially have with that. It talks about Val Con's birth. It is a love story set in a rich, science fiction world with vast cultural differences from Earth. I knew the ending, but I still cried from 94% on to almost the end.

50. Fledgling by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

51. Saltation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

52. Ghost Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

53. Dragon Ship by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

54. Necessity's Child by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

55. Dragon in Exile by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

56. Alliance of Equals by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

57. The Gathering Edge by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

58. Neogenesis by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller - re-read

59. Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (287 p.) -- Navajo mythology based post-apocalyptic. Maggie Hoskie is a monster hunter. She gained her Clan powers and was rescued by immortal hunter Neizghani who taught her to hunt the monsters. When the story begins, Neizghani has left her breaking her heart and making her fear that her power to kill made him leave her. She has a new case, hunting down a witch who is creating monsters. She has a potential new partner in Kai who has come to learn about his powers from his grandfather - one of Maggie's few friends. Since both are keeping secrets and Maggie doesn't really want a partner at all, their partnership has lots of trials. This was a good story of betrayal and friendship as Maggie makes decisions about how she is going to live her life.

60. Phoenix Unbound by Grace Draven (400 p.) -- Epic fantasy/romance. Gilene who has been sent to the capitol as a sacrifice and Azarion who is an enslaved pit gladiator band together to escape and bring down the empire. Gilene has magic that lets her survive being burned to death and the power of illusion. It's her illusion power, and his ability to see through them, that gives Azarion the means to escape his captivity and return to his home where he wants revenge on the cousin who sold him into slavery and stole his position as the leader of his clan. Gilene rebels every step of the way to Azarion's home because she needs to return to her village to keep it safe from the emperor. Gradually, as they face many trials, they fall in love but their destinies need to tear them apart before they can find the way back to each other.

61. Ghost Talkers by Mary Robinette Kowal (304 p.) -- Excellent historical fantasy. Ginger is a part of the Spirit Corps during WWI. Their job is to assist the war effort by taking reports from newly dead soldiers. Ginger is engaged to Ben, an intelligence officer. When he is murdered, he refuses to go on to the light and leave her until he finds out who murdered him and makes sure Ginger and Spirit Corps are safe. Dealing with heartbreak, Ginger has to help Ben try to retrace his steps and find the traitors. Grieving and watching him lose memories and purpose, Ginger faces all kinds of dangers as they hunt for traitors. Great story!

62. Wildcard by Marie Lu (342 p.) -- Having learned what her hero/boyfriend plans to do with the NeuroLink he invented, she has one week to stop a plan she cannot support. She allies with Zero and the Blackcoats who also want to prevent Hideo's plan from succeeding but she quickly learns that they want to use the NeuroLink for something worse. Now she needs to outwit both groups. I loved the worldbuilding. I loved Emika who was smart and willing to go a long way to realize the future of her dreams.

63. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop (412 p.) -- Dark fantasy about the coming of a Witch who had long been prophesied. Jaenelle is only seven when the story begins. She is in an abusive home and is not recognized by her family as the foretold Witch. Saetan, the High Lord of Hell, recognizes her when she travels to his hall and decides to love her and teach her. She is a heartbreaking character who so much wants love and friendship but has only faced suffering and betrayal. Daemon has spent 700 years as a slave to the Queens who practice all sorts of perversions and who have nearly broken him. Meeting Jaenelle gives him a new focus and a purpose. This story is dark with intrigue, betrayal, and abuse. This is the first of an 8 book series. I can't wait to read on.

64. The Wild Dead by Carrie Vaughn (264 p.) -- Enid of Haven finds her second murder investigation when she and her new partner are called to an isolated village on the Coast Road to investigate a property dispute that turns into a murder investigation when the body of a young woman is found in the marshes the village scavenges. She's a stranger - probably from a wild settlement off the road - and her partner wonders if they should investigate at all. Enid needs to find out the truth about her death even though she would rather be at home awaiting the birth of the baby who will be a new member of her household. I liked Enid's determination to find out the truth. I liked the worldbuilding of this post-apocalyptic society where having a baby was a privilege and not a right.

65. Inventing Victoria by Tonya Bolden (264 p.) -- Historical fiction about a young black girl, the daughter of a prostitute, who gets a chance to remake herself as a member of Washington, DC, black society in the 1880s. Entertaining story with a determined young woman with big dreams. Lots of historical detail is well-woven into the story.

66. The Hangman's Secret by Laura Joh Rowland (304 p.) -- Sarah, Hugh, and Mick's next case has to do with who killed the hangman who executed Amelia Carlisle who was convicted of killing hundreds of babies. Something happened at her hanging but the Official Secrets Act prevents any of the witnesses from talking about it. When the assistant hangman is also killed, the gang makes all the witnesses suspects but face great danger trying to bring the culprit to justice. There are also romance troubles for all the main characters. Sarah's relationship with PC Barrett is tested when they are working on opposite sides to solve the crime. Hugh's relationship with Sir Gerald's son is also troubled. And Mick's crush on an actress having an affair with one the main suspects adds emotional intensity. Sarah also learns some things about her parents when she has to try to locate the father who abandoned her 20+ years earlier before the police can find him.

67. The Au Pair by Emma Rous (384 p.) -- Seraphine goes hunting for her past after her father's death. She is curious about her birth and the death of her mother the same day. She's never felt like a part of the family and hopes her search will help her find herself. Laura Silveira has the answers. She was the au pair for the family during the time that is in question. But she doesn't want to talk about the painful events and someone else is also trying to steer Seraphine away from finding out the long-buried family secrets.

68. The Paragon Hotel by Lyndsay Faye (432 p.) -- Historical fiction - Alice James - flapper, gun moll, and fugitive - finds herself on the run with a gunshot wound in her side and on a train to Portland in 1921. She rescued by a Pullman porter and taken to the Paragon Hotel - the only hotel for blacks in the city - where she quickly finds "family" and makes friends. Portland is seeing a rapid expansion of the Ku Klux Klan and the state wants all the blacks to leave. When a little boy from the hotel disappears, the employees don't get help from the white law to find him and begin their own search. As Alice searches, she uncovers a number of secrets about the residents of the hotel. This story is interwoven with her life as a ward of one of the Italian criminal bosses in Harlem and the violence the Mafia caused there. Lots of 1920s slang but a good story with intriguing characters.

69. This Promise of Change by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy (311 p.) -- YA nonfiction in verse about one early event in the Civil Rights Movement when twelve black kids integrate Clinton (TN) High School in 1956. The school is desegregated as a result of the Supreme Court Brown vs Board of Education case and not because the white authorities believed it was right or just. The kids faced many hardships from outside agitators, the Ku Klux Klan, and harassing fellow students. The focus of the book is Jo Ann Allen - 15, religious, optimistic and hungry for a good education. She only lasted one semester before her family decided to move to LA for better opportunities for all of them but it was a very memorable semester.

70. The Wrong Foot by Stephanie Burgis (28 p.) -- A fresh new take on Cinderella. Sure the shoe fits, but Sophie is not the right girl. She likes to read and study and has no desire to marry. However, the prince was too busy looking at his dance partner's bosom to look at her face and has only the small shoe as a clue to find his bride. Sophie's mother and the Queen are both quite willing to railroad Sophie into a wedding she doesn't want. Luckily, the prince's secretary Harcourt is willing to help a girl out and they find that reading and studying is something they have in common. Sophie quickly learns who the runaway dance partner was but she doesn't want to marry the prince either. Sophie has to find someone who does so that she can be free.

71. Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz (336 p.) -- Finale of the Quinton Zane books. Jack Lancaster solves cold cases using his ability to lucid dream, put together random bits of information, and figure probabilities. When his lucid dreaming starts to go out of control, he goes to Winter Meadows in Eclipse Bay who is working as a meditation therapist since her strong talent as a hypnotist isn't really marketable. They fall in love. When Winter's stalker is thwarted by Jack, he believes that the stalker was set on Winter by an old enemy of his that he has been tracking for 22 years. The couple uses their unique skills and face a number of dangers as they - along with Jack's foster father and foster brothers - finally end the threat of Quinton Zane.

72. A Merciful Fate by Kendra Elliot (359 p.) -- Mercy's next case begins when bones are discovered along with empty bank bags which reopens the Gamble-Helmet Heist - a robbery of an armored car that left a guard dead, one robber caught and four more missing along with $2 million - that happened 30 years earlier. Shane Gamble has been in prison since the robbery and will stay there for the rest of his life but he refuses to give any information on the whereabouts of the others or even who the 5th robber - the driver of the getaway car - was. A young reporter from a tabloid and vandalism aimed at two long-time residents of the town seem to be related to the old heist. When her partner is shot, the tabloid reporter murdered, and her niece shot, Mercy knows that the past isn't as buried as the robbers hoped. This was an exciting story filled with action and near death experiences.

73. Tear It Down by Nick Petrie (384 p.) -- 4th Peter Ash mystery finds him in Memphis to help out a war photographer who is being harassed in her new home. When he arrives, someone has just driven a dump truck through the front of the house. He also gets involved with a young black musician who steals his truck after taking part in a jewelry store heist and who has gotten the local crime boss on his trail. Peter is a knight errant in rusty armor, an Iraq war vet who came home with PTSD, and who is happy to use violence to help people out. Memorable characters, and fast-paced action.

74. Marked by Stars by Forthright (73p.) -- Short story about the founding of the dog clan and its work with human reavers. More information about kith.

75. The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (464 p.) -- YA fantasy set in 1898 Paris. A group of teens all with their own reasons are stealing things from the Order of Babel and encounter a group who wants to change the world. The characters were unique and emotionally complicated people. The plot was engaging. The world building and the magic are interesting. It's the first of a series.

Congrats on hitting the goal!

76. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee (304 p.) -- Middle grade science fiction. 13-year-old Min is a fox spirit who hides her heritage because humans distrust foxes. When her brother disappears from his ship in the Space Forces and is thought to be a deserter, Min goes off to try to find out what happened to him. She uses her abilities to shift into other forms and uses her Charm to get places she couldn't otherwise go. She is told that her brother is searching for the legendary dragon pearl which is a magic that can be used to terraform planets. Many people want the pearl. Some want to use is to make money, others to use it as a threat in wartime. Min has to outwit many enemies. She learns about her brother, finds the pearl, and has her future planned. Lots of action, adventure, magical powers and ghosts.

77. Wild Embrace by Nalini Singh (384 p.) -- 4 Psy-Changeling novellas. Echo of Silence tells the story of Stefan and Tazia. Dorian give snippets from his life. Partners in Persuasion tells about Felix, a submissive wolf, and Dezi, a dominant leopard, and their courtship. Flirtation of Fate is about two wolves - Kenji and Garnet. He broke her heart when she turned 21 and now they have to work together to solve a mystery.

78. The Burning Island by Hester Young (354 p.) -- Investigative journalist and reluctant psychic flees to Hawaii with her best friend after being outed as a psychic when she found a boy lost in a isolated desert park. Her editor wants her to interview Victor Nakagawa, a volcanologist who also runs triathalons but doesn't mention that his 16-year-old daughter has been missing for a couple months. Charlie feels betrayed but then she dreams of a girl on a hammock in the woods being watched by someone. Charlie starts to investigate the disappearance of Lise despite the fact that the Victor thinks she's just run away again. Victor's wife, wheelchair bound after an accident, wants Charlie to investigate. While Lise's identical twin Jocelyn doesn't seem very worried. Everyone knows that Lise's boyfriend Elijah killed her but Charlie has her doubts. Elijah comes from a strange family. He has two brothers and a mother who was part of a religious cult. Dysfunctional families, the local drug culture, and a resident psychic add twists and turns to this fast-paced mystery.

79. Circle of Shadows by Evelyn Skye (400 p.) -- Start of new YA Epic Fantasy series. Sora is being trained as a taiga - able to use magic and fighting skills to protect her Empress and kingdom. Everything comes so easily to her that she doesn't try very hard. Her gemina Daemon is great at the fighting skills but less talented with magic. The kingdom has been peaceful and prosperous since the Empress fought her twin ten years earlier. Now, Sora and Daemon discover that the Prince is back and has learned new magic to help him take over the kingdom. Unfortunately, Sora's reputation makes it hard for the leaders to believe her report. Sora and Daemon sneak out to find more facts which leads to secrets being revealed, brainwashing, all sorts of violence, and many adventures.

80. Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch (375 p.) -- 2nd Peter Grant. Peter investigates the suspicious deaths of jazz musicians and a new black magic practitioner in town.

81. One Tough Cowboy by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick (304 p.) -- Extremely graphic romantic suspense title. Samantha comes home from her job with the Detroit police department because of her aunt's suspicious death. Sheriff Hunter, who was her childhood hero and crush, is also suspicious. Sam's aunt is only the latest in a series of suspicious deaths including his uncle Zack. Their immediate, intense sexual attraction almost prevents them from investigating the corruption in town. Throw in her stalker ex who is deep in the corruption and you have a busy plot. Too graphic sex scenes and "tell, don't show" made this one very unrealistic.

82. A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (484 p.) -- An excellent retelling of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Harper lives in DC with her mother who is dying of cancer and her brother who's working for a loan shark to protect them. Harper has cerebral palsy which mostly affects the strength in her left leg. When she attempts to rescue a young woman, she finds herself kidnapped and taken to Emberfall. Rhen is under a curse. He repeats the autumn he turned 18 and will continue to do so until he finds a woman to love him. If he fails, he turns into a terrible monster until he resets back to the beginning. He has done this almost 300 times and has lost all hope. Harper wants to find a way home but she ends up encouraging Rhen to get out of his castle and connect with his subjects. The enchantress who cursed him also comes often to torture Rhen and encourage his sense of hopelessness. If that wasn't bad enough, his country is on the verge of invasion by a neighbor. Great characters and a nicely believable romance.

83. Whispers Under Ground by Ben Aaronovitch (418 p.) -- This starts with the murder of an American art student. James Gallagher was found dead in the London Underground. It leads to exploring the London Underground, finding secret tunnels, exploring London's sewers, and discovering a hidden group of people who've been underground for more than 100 years. It is a police procedural with magic. Peter Grant is an apprentice wizard and Detective Constable. He has a quirky and irreverent sense of humor and narrates the story.